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The Warriors have an eye towards their first win of the season as they celebrate their home opener against the Hounds on Saturday afternoon. It was the visitors who formally eliminated their hosts from the postseason in June of last year. Utah were second-best in Houston last week to start the new season, while Chicago won in the pouring rain against newcomers Miami.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
0-1-0 (L1) West 6th
1-0-0 (W1) East 3rd
| LINEUP CHANGES |
1 Franco van den Berg replaces Emerson Prior
3 Paul Mullen replaces Angus MacLellan
5 Saia Uhila replaces Louis Conradie
7 Bailey Wilson replaces Kalisi Moli (wore 6 vs Houston)
11 Sione Mahe replaces Mika Kruse
13 Tomasi Tonga replaces Spencer Jones
14 Jesse Hamilton replaces Michael Manson (suspended)
17 Emerson Prior replaces Franco van den Berg
18 Angus MacLellan replaces Paul Mullen
19 Matt Jensen replaces Saia Uhila
22 Kalisi Moli replaces Bailey Wilson
3 Paddy Ryan replaces Ignacio Péculo
11 Julián Domínguez replaces Michael Baska
18 Ignacio Péculo replaces Charlie Abel
19 Brad Tucker replaces Mike Matarazzo
20 Conall Boomer replaces Julián Domínguez
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(1) – Mahe (pro debut)
(2) – Tucker, Boomer
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Mullen, Tu’avao, Wilson, Lasike, MacLellan, Jensen (USA), Havili (Tonga), Povey (Canada)
(13) – Zhvania (Georgia), Fawsitt, Ryan, White, McCarthy, Campbell, Augspurger, Carty (USA), Flesch, Rumball, Higgins (Canada), Pujadas, Péculo (Uruguay)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Spencer Jones (CE), Mika Kruse (CE/WI), Joe Mano (WI), Michael Manson (WI)
– Ben Landry (LO/FL), Dave Kearney (WI/FB)
| NOTES |
- Utah winger Michael Manson was hit with a three-week suspension for what was deemed reckless play in the season opener against Houston
- former Eagles lock Matt Jensen is set for his full return to MLR after coming out of retirement… the last of his 43 previous matches for Utah was in the 2021 season… 41 of those were starts… his last replacement appearance was in the inaugural 2018 campaign
- the Warriors continue with a 6/2 split on the bench, with both Onehunga Havili and Kalisi Moli covering the back row… former Eagles lock Matt Jensen makes his first appearance since 2021
- Chicago will also use a 6/2 split with Brad Tucker added as lock reserve and Conall Boomer set for his MLR debut as a back row replacement
- the experiment with Billy Meakes at flyhalf continues for a second week… Luke Carty remains on the bench, one of two back reserves with Jason Higgins
| PREDICTION |
Conditions made things tough for the Hounds against the Sharks last week, and the visitors will have to put up with chilly temperatures and the effects of playing at altitude against the Warriors. It’s a relatively settled lineup for Chicago but it’s much change for Utah. On paper the visitors have a stronger lineup though the atmosphere tips the scales somewhat. Chicago are slight favorites.
| LINEUPS |
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Frank Lochore, 5 Saia Uhila, 6 Thomas Tu’avao, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Dylan Nel, 9 Zion Going, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Sione Mahe, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Tomasi Tonga, 14 Jesse Hamilton, 15 Caleb Makene
Replacements: 16 Phil Bradford, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Matt Jensen, 20 Onehunga Havili, 21 Kieran McClea, 22 Kalisi Moli, 23 Robbie Povey
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Zura Zhvania, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 James Scott, 5 George Merrick, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Luke White, 9 Nick McCarthy, 10 Billy Meakes (capt.), 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Nate Augspurger, 15 Adriaan Carelse
Replacements: 16 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Brad Tucker, 20 Conall Boomer, 21 Maclean Jones, 22 Jason Higgins, 23 Luke Carty
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, March 9
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 14:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 15:00 Central, 16:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 39°F (4°C), wind S 9-13mph (14-21km/h)
Broadcasts: KMYU, Marquee Sports Plus, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Kage Green (USA) & Chris O’Malley (USA)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (2) – Utah 1, Chicago 1, STREAK Chicago +1
2023-06-10 – Utah Warriors 24, Chicago Hounds 26 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2023-03-05 – Chicago Hounds 10, Utah Warriors 14 (SeatGeek Stadium)
